I've read about the star exercise and tried this technique for generating chi energy, all I can say is my feet and hands buzz for about 5 minutes after I have done this yoga (Sometimes my whole body). I do not believe this is hyperventilization, but who knows, I would like to know what others experience trying this technique.

Hi, I practice that exercise myself. I find it to be great! And powerful too. Sounds like it is working well for you, and powerfully also right? I have the same experience. Also maybe try the laying planetary polarity meditation, I find it creates intense buzzing in my chakras and whole body, if I practice mindfully. And I find myself breathing rythmically automatically sometimes in laying meditation. Sometimes it gets so strong I feel as if I'm gonna sit up, or actually, the vibration energy is going to sit up, leaving my body on the ground. Sometimes I might practice Yoga and and then meditation, sometimes seperately. You can also do meditation then Yoga. So that's excellent, anyways, it is not hyperventilation because the energy can last for quite sometime after the practice as you mentioned, and I don't get dizzy at all when I practice. You don't have to do it so intensely when you start and the amount of breaths you take is up to you. It really opens the shoulders and upper body, so it is more health than martial arts, but if you think about it, it is an open posture, which I beleive in the end is more important for the health of the internal organs than a closed posture,( lol, unless taking a hit!) you need both. I think it would be good for the heart too. For martial arts, any posture which is the opposite of the star exersice, ( which would be round, or circular shoulders) is correct. Seriously, I often check if my Taijiquan posture is correct by thinking of the star exersice. If it's the opposite to the star exercise, it's correct. Shoulders always sunk a little for either one.

I think the Yoga videos exlpain the techniques and the breathing the best. I am impressed with how they use the dantien and waist in their TIbetan Yoga. When the women who really knows what she's doing does it, it's like her abdomen is an airbag being filled with air and then released of air, her abdomen almost looks like that! Like a bag being filled and emptied of air! IMA's also use the dantien and waist in a variety of ways, such as spiralling the dantien, shaking dantien, vibrating dantien, bombing dantien into the ground.

Is is very old. Yoga is one of the oldest known practices I think. How esoteric it was, I doubt was a consideration when it was created. Throughout known human history, it was practiced by monks. Like most qigong and meditation actually.

[QUOTE]Is is very old. Yoga is one of the oldest known practices I think.[/QUOTE]

I would agree with that. As the legend says; Ta Mo brought the I Chin Ching from India via the Himalayas. The I Chin Chings' postures are quite similar to those of Hatha Yoga.

[QUOTE] How esoteric it was, I doubt was a consideration when it was created. Throughout known human history, it was practiced by monks. Like most qigong and meditation actually.[/QUOTE]

I guess this is where I have a hard time grasping this. The esoteric contents of this knowledge of this exercise was not an issue when it was created because it was not posted on the internet, rather it was passed on through direct transmition.The people practicing this exercise these days are hardly monks. Most people do these things today because it makes them feel good. Not because they are trying to reach enlightenment as a monk.

I guess my biggest beef with this stuff or any type of energy art whether it be martial or healing in nature is that it can not be properly taught/transmited via the internet.

Yes, I see that point, you can't be incorrect in your movements. But I really beleive the true secret is in the practice itself. Practiceing it and studying the exersices and routines everyday is the key. Don't think it is so overly complicated or esoteric it can't be understood with practice and study though, IMO and understanding.